The road, which had taken a lazy southern curve, now was meandering back to the northeast.
As the trail rounded a small hillock, Mason was suddenly jolted wide awake. Ahead of him, to the right side of the road, stood an Indian boy, probably not more than six. He was naked except for a buckskin loin cloth. But what was even more unusual was that the child did not acknowledge Mason’s presence, did not turn his head- in fact, did not move at all.
It took Mason only a split second to discern the reason for this strange behavior. On the trail, not two feet from the immobile boy, was a rattlesnake, on a boulder, coiled, ready to strike. The top of the rock was just above the buffalo grass. Mason guessed the boy did not see the snake until he was already upon it. Mason heard the ominous sound of the snake’s rattle.
And it took only a split second more for Mason to pull his Colt, aim, and fire. Almost simultaneously with the report of the pistol, the snake fell sideways. The young Indian jumped at the sound of the gun. The mule deer scattered, heading back into the safety of the trees.
The sound of the .45 caused another reaction. An Indian woman ran out of the trees, and the boy ran to her. When she saw Mason, his gun still drawn, she screamed, grabbed the boy, and ran back the way she came.
And then another figure emerged from the trees. This was also an Indian, male, and holding a rifle aimed directly at Mason.
As the trail rounded a small hillock, Mason was suddenly jolted wide awake. Ahead of him, to the right side of the road, stood an Indian boy, probably not more than six. He was naked except for a buckskin loin cloth. But what was even more unusual was that the child did not acknowledge Mason’s presence, did not turn his head- in fact, did not move at all.
It took Mason only a split second to discern the reason for this strange behavior. On the trail, not two feet from the immobile boy, was a rattlesnake, on a boulder, coiled, ready to strike. The top of the rock was just above the buffalo grass. Mason guessed the boy did not see the snake until he was already upon it. Mason heard the ominous sound of the snake’s rattle.
And it took only a split second more for Mason to pull his Colt, aim, and fire. Almost simultaneously with the report of the pistol, the snake fell sideways. The young Indian jumped at the sound of the gun. The mule deer scattered, heading back into the safety of the trees.
The sound of the .45 caused another reaction. An Indian woman ran out of the trees, and the boy ran to her. When she saw Mason, his gun still drawn, she screamed, grabbed the boy, and ran back the way she came.
And then another figure emerged from the trees. This was also an Indian, male, and holding a rifle aimed directly at Mason.